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Announcement: Stage 3 Rule of Meaningful Use
On March 20, 2015 the proposed rule for Stage 3 of the Medicare and Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs went on display. It will be published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2015. The comment period will close on May 29, 2015. The rule gives more flexibility and simplifies requirements for providers by focusing on advanced use of electronic health records and eliminating requirements that are no longer relevant.

Payment adjustments will begin in 2015 for providers who are eligible but decide not to participate

No payment adjustments for providers who are only eligible for the Medicaid program

Providers must demonstrate meaningful use every year to receive incentive payments.

In the first year providers can receive an incentive payment for adopting, implementing, or upgrading EHR technology. Providers must demonstrate meaningful use in the remaining years to receive incentive payments.

Incentive payments made through the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program are subject to the mandatory reductions in federal spending known as sequestration, required by the Budget Control Act of 2011. As required by law, President Obama issued a sequestration order on March 1, 2013. Under these mandatory reductions, Medicare EHR incentive payments made to eligible professionals and eligible hospitals will be reduced by 2%. This 2% reduction has been applied to any Medicare EHR incentive payment for a reporting period that ended on or after April 1, 2013.

Please note that this reduction does not apply to Medicaid EHR incentive payments, which are exempt from the mandatory reductions.